The Secret Service has placed several agents on administrative leave following the near-fatal July 13 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident, which resulted in Trump being wounded and a firefighter being killed, has drawn intense scrutiny over the agency’s security procedures.
Sources from within the agency report that agents from the Pittsburgh Field Office, who played a key role in planning the event’s security, are among those suspended. However, members of Trump’s permanent protective detail—who were also heavily involved in the event’s planning—remain on active duty. The disparity in accountability has raised concerns about internal bias and has sparked frustration among lower-level agents.
Acting Director Ron Rowe, who assumed his role after the resignation of former Director Kimberly Cheatle, is under fire for his leadership. Critics argue that the Secret Service’s top brass failed to provide adequate resources despite the known risks surrounding the event. Cheatle’s decision to limit the number of countersnipers and her justification that the roof was “too steep” have been widely criticized.
The investigation has also revealed deeper issues within the agency, including decisions to cut back on countersurveillance operations and reduce key security personnel. Whistleblowers have alleged that these cuts were driven by cost-saving measures rather than strategic assessments, leaving critical gaps in protection.
As the fallout from the incident continues, the Secret Service faces increasing demands for transparency and reforms to prevent similar lapses in the future.
